by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

Well, just when we don't think it's possible for Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics to surprise us again, they absolutely stun us.

Never, ever do they cease to amaze, and just when you think they're done with their major moves at the non-waiver trade deadline, they pull off another doozy, landing Boston Red Sox ace Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes for Yoenis Cespedes and a competitive balance draft pick in 2015.

The trade, confirmed by two high-ranking officials with direct knowledge of the trade, also said that the Athletics will be receiving about $1.15 million from the Red Sox.

The officials spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the trade has not yet been announced.

The Athletics, who already pulled off the stunning deal in July with the Chicago Cubs for starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, now have a full-house of aces that make them the World Series favorite.

Finally, after being to the postseason seven times under the Beane watch, and failing to reach the World Series, advancing to the American League Championship Series just once, the A's have a team ready to win it all.

The Athletics didn't care about surrendering two of their prized prospects in shortstop Addison Russell, 20, and outfielder Billy McKinney, 19, to the Cubs.

They didn't care about trading Cespedes, who's eligible for free agency after the 2015 season, to grab Lester now.

"We have a team that can win right now,'' Beane said earlier this month. "Just collecting young players is not something in our marketplace we can do.''

The Athletics were shrewd making this move. They may have the best record in the American League at 66-41, but the Los Angeles Angels refuse to go away, trailing by just 2 ½ games.

Besides, Hammel has badly struggled, going 0-4 with a 9.53 ERA.

Now, with Lester, Samardzija, Sonnny Gray and Scott Kazmir, who in the world is going to stop them from getting to the World Series.

Remember when Beane said, that ""it would be a bit arrogant'' to think that the Samardzija trade was a postseason move?

Well, this indeed is a postseason move.

Remember when Detroit Tigers starter Justin Verlander said that they were the reason for the Samardzija trade, knowing they knocked the A's out of the playoffs the last two years?

Well, this trade was built for the Los Angeles Dodgers or whatever team comes out of the National League in the World Series.